Convertible automobile-body.



H. SMITH. CONVERTIBLE AUTOMOBILE BODY.

APPLICATION HLE D FEB- 20. 19H.

Patented Feb. 8, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET I LVVENTOR A TTORNEY.

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H. SMITH. CONVERTIBLE AUTOMOBI'LE'IBODY.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 20, I911- Patented Feb. 8, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2 H. SMlTH.

CONVERTIBLE AUTOMOBILE BODY.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 20, I91 I.

Patented. Feb. 8, 1916.

5 SHEETSSHEET 3 a W m 7 WITNESSES: $4

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CONVERTIBLE AUTOMOBILE BODY.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 20, 1911.

Patented Feb. 8, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

IVITNESSES: INVENTOR,

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ATTORNEY.

H. SIVHTH.

CONVERTIBLE AUTOMOBILE BODY.

APPL|CATION FILED FEB, 20, I91]- Patentd Feb. 8,1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5- WITNESSES:

- INVENTOR,

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ATTORNEY.

sans nna nnm opinion.

HINSIDALE SMITH, 0F SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE SPRING-FIELD BODY COMPANY, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPURATION 01?MASSACHUSETTS.

CONVERTIBLE AUTOMOBILE-BODY.

Specification. of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 19916.

Application filed February 20, 1911. Serial No. 609,564.

desirability of, a limousine, landaulet or cabriolet, and whereby, atpleasure, and with requirement for dismantling but very few of theequipments, the automobile may be com'erted to appear as an attractivetouring car. I

The subject matter of my present invenvation of the body of the vehiclewith the normal parts as positioned and arranged to make in readiness bythe raising, or insertion, of the windows, a closed body resembling alimousine or landaulet. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same vehiclewhen appearing as an open'touring car. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevationof the rear portion of the closed body. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectionalviewon alarger'sc'ale through a door-provided portion of the body, astaken on line 44, Fig. 3, the window being in its elevated and bodyclosing position. Fig. 5 is a view similar'to Fig. 4, but showing thewindow as lowered within the pocket therefor, in the door. Fig. 6 is ahorizontal cross,

.section on line 6-6, Fig. 5. Fig. 7 isia general plan and partialhorizontal sectional view as taken on line 7-7,Fig. 1, this view beingdesignedfor showing forms and arran'gements in a general way and inwhich, owing to the small scale on which the same is drawn, the showingof some detail parts ,is purposely omitted. Fig. 8 is a horizontalsectional view on a larger scale taken on line 8-8, Fig. 3; and Fig. 9is similarly a horizontal sectional view on line 9-9, Fi

3. Fig. 10 is a side elevation in detail sh6wing one of duplicatedbrackets for receiving temporary engagement therewith of the severalfoldable bows comprised in the flexible top,the dotted lines indicatinga changed position and arrangement of the bracket when the body is open.Fig. 11 is a general plan similar to Fig. 7 but showing a slightlydifferent contour of tonneau body.

Fig. 12 is a frontelevation or diagram il.lus'-- trating a hingedfeature of top supporting bow to be hereinafter referred to andexplained. Fig. 13 is a plan view of the normally horizontal bow, forsupporting the forward upper portion of the flexible top, shown in itsrelation to the upright wind shield frame,Fig. 15 being a sectionalelevation of the same. Fig. 15 is a view similar to Fig. 10 butpositively showing by full lines the positions and relations of thepartswhenthe top isfolded as represented in Fig. 2. "Fig. 16 15 avperspective view to show the detail constructlon of the means ofdetachable connection of the" bows of the foldable top with the sides ofthe body of the car.

The example of automobile body A here shown is of the fore door torpedotype hav-=' ing two doors B B and forward and rear seats C, C eachunderstood as being of width suitable to carry two or more persons.

The top D comprises, as here shown, a rear how a and three othersimilarbows a a a forward thereof, the hood or vizor supporting bow a,the rear end of which is detachably connected to an upper portion of theforward upright bow at, and which when the top is up occupies asubstantialy horizontal position, and the covering 1) of flexiblematerial. I

"The opposite parallel depending legs of the rear how a are fastened ina secure manner to the brackets E, the form of which is clearly shown inFigs. 10 and 15; and such bracket at each side of the body is by pivot 0hinge-connected to an ear lug of a. slidable block F which is mounted ona runner bar (13. Each of the brackets E is provided with a normallyhorizontal rigid, ex-

tension 7' made with upwardly opening rethe top is to be folded andcollapsed and swung from its upright position, Fig. 1 (here consideredthe normal position) to the gf the short hori more or less horizontalposition and in rearward extension on the body as shown in Fig. 2. I

The body has at each side thereof the brackets 2' i (see Figs. 3 and 16)made with stud receiving sockets, 2' similar to the aforementionedsockets g sothat when the top is, to be in its normal and set upcondition the lower ends of the opposite legs of the several bows willbe stably held in the brackets h, it being understood that theseduplicated brackets are provided in exact-or approxi mately uniformlyspaced arrangement one to the rear and another just forward of theopening in the side of the body for the rear door, while another ofthese brackets has its location at the upper edge portion of the bodyjust to the rear of the opening for the fore door.

The horizontal bow a has at each side thereof just to the rear of itsforward leguniting part a depending bracket j made with a downwardlyopening recess so as to straddle over and have engagement with a shortshaft or stud like part is formed as an appurtenance of and laterallyextending from the wind shield frame; and when the bifurcated bracket isengaged about the cart is it may be detachably secured by a cotter pin,as indicated in Fig. 14. The shaft like part is may be a provision nowcommonly found on, and having to do with the adjustment of, tiltablewind shields, an accepted 'type of which is represented in the presentdrawings. The forward one of the set of bows a has a forwardly openingsocket a Figs. 1 andll, into-which the stud a at the end of the leg ofthe upper horizontal bow a would do to the detriment of the appliance.

In the operation of collapsing the top, the

three bows a a a are transferred while still standing vertically fromtheirmounting 1n the brackets h, and transferred to the sockets g in thebracket E while the latter remains with its socketed part 7 in thehorizontal position shown in Fig. 10. The slide block F on which thesaid bracket E is hinge connected is then slid forwardly on the runnerbar d and the compactly disposed top is then swung to the positionrepresented'in Figs.

' 2 and 15. The slide block F is constructed as of a split, formationwhereby it is constrictire about the runner bar, it may be clamped orbound 1n either its normal rearward position shown in Fig. 10, or in itsforwardly slid position shown in Fig. 15 by thebinding nut e. I

The provision for the forward sliding of the folded up top as a whole isone of great desirability and value in that it lessens in a considerabledegree the rearward overhanging ofthe top and greatly lessens theliability of up and down swaying and jolting, and also permits the useof a large side window.

G G G G represents sash'provided win down for closing the three openingsbetween the bows a. and a a. a and between the forward bow and the windshield frame.

The first' and third of the windows, reckoning from the front of thevehicle, are, when the top is up and to have the sides thereof closed,supported on the upper edges of the doors B B, while the second andfourth windows are supported on the upper edges of'the body side, onebetween the doors, and another behind the rear door. The lower edges ofthe windows which are provided for use above the doors haveflange-forming thin metallic strips on shown in Figs. 4 and 5, forengagement with the step shaped legs 0 provided at the upper edge of thedoor near its outer face.

Each door 1s made with a pocket n down into which the window may belowered for an out of the way disposition, it being necessary to thisend to slightly lift the window and then slightly inwardly move itbefore letting it down onto the rest n in a lower portion of the pocket;and the handleprovided strap 11. provides a not unusual means for thewithdrawal of the window upwardly from the pocket.

The doors are provided at their upper corners with hinged window guideswhich by carriage builders are called flap pers, these being swung fromtheir folded down horizontal positions, which they are to occupy at theupper edge of the door when the'window is lowered into a pocket,

I to their vertical window retaining and guiding positions when thewindow is-up, as represented m Fig. 3. These fiappers con tribute in theguidance of the window upwardly, but the frames or casings for the threerearward windows are constituted by the properly spaced upright andparallel legs of the four bows of the top, as clearly indicated in Figs.1, 7, 8, 9 and 11; and as particularly shown in Fig.' 9 and elsewhere inthe drawings, the bow a next to the rear of the door has a ra'bbetforming strip having a length about as great as that of the window, andwhich measurably conceals the flapper on the inner side of the windowcasing.

The leg member of the bow comprised in the top which is next forward ofthe rear door is provided at its innerside with a nitrates o the door sothat by properly turning the button the third Window from the rear maybe removed from. the casement therefor, the

base of which is constituted by the upper edge of the body side,which isprovided with a fin or rabbet s,and the opposite sides of which areformed by the forward bow and the one next to the rear thereof.

The rearmost window is represented in horizontal cross section in Fig.8, and the sash thereof has at its forward edge portion a rabbet piece 3which overlaps the bow forward thereof and is engaged by a button t onsuch bow, while the rearward how a is provided with a thin metalinwardly opening" trough shaped housing 3 in which the extension springportion G of the window is engaged. This extension portion G of the sashis one commonly used for windows and screens to adapt them to varyingwidths between window casings; and such proyision is utilized in thiscase to make each rear window collapsible in width so that it may becontracted rearwardly to be let down into a pocket of therefor, whichpocket by reason of the location of the rear door opening must in manycases for expediency or construction purposes be located with itsforward boundary somewhat-to the rearward of the rear door opening, andalso to the rearward, oat the next to the rear bow which forms part ofthe casing for such rear door.

The third window from the rear on each side of the vehicle may be takenout from the window frame or casing therefor which comprises the legs ofthe bows, and placed,

for instance, within the flap G of the rear door as shown in Figs. 5 and6.

The constructions and arrano'ement's tor steadying the windows in thebow forming casings therefor, for preventing displacement ot the sameinwardly or outwardly and tor forming jambs or weather guards,

be variable within the election of the builder; and my invention is notto be limited in respect of these minor details of construction; and inthe car such as here represented and which has been built andpractically used, it is found preferable to em gether in their forwardsuccession, and in order that these bows may be practically adapted forengagements in the sockets g of the hinged and slidable brackets E E,which are quite widely separated at the rear of the body, I have deviseda special construction for those bows forward oi: the permanently fixedrear bow a, such as represented in Fig. 1:2 of the drawing, that is onemade in hinge connected sections so that the leg members thereof may bedistended from their normal. relations when the top is to be folded. isapparent that a bow having substantiall this construction may have thelegs thereo' separated in an increased degree when are brought tosupporting engagement w the opposite brackets E E at the rear of t body.Of course, there may be an extension or reduction in the employment ofthe idea of means herein set forth for the production of the convertibleopen touring car a d fully or partially closed vehicle on limousine orlandaulet type; and it is clearly within the province of the con--structor to produce a vehicle body having a greater or less number ofdoors windows and a top which in accordance therei l would comprise agreater or less number of bows than illustrated in this case.

The studs the lower-ends of the Y.- of the bows a a a. may be detachablyloo in the sockets of the spaced brackets is sides of tie body by cotterpins, orby a manifest or approved devices, and t able top having, whenit is up, detachable connection at the front of the car with the upright(wind shield) frame is also vented from fore and swinging or steadinessby the duplicated obliquely an ranged rear brace 11' which has onethereof pivotally connected e rear upper part of the body and its ot erdetachably connected at a suitably high. point to the bracket-supported.rear bow or.

l. The c nbination with an autom "le body having oppositely locatedbrackets its rear portion, of a to his top com.- prising a plurality ofbows a pted have suitably widely separated a one oit which is secured tosaid brackets, t the bows forward of the rear one while in suchseparated relations to be cc tachably supported in parallelism on sidesof the body, and to also in th folded relations detachably connected to,and supported by said brackets,- members having fore and aft slidingmovemdnts at opposite rear portions oi the body, to which the saidbrackets are hinge-connected, and means for confining said members intheir forwardly or rearwardly located positions.

2. The combination with automobile body having horizontally arrangedrunner bars oppositely located at the rear poi...

. rronce tachable connection with the latter of said forwardly locatedhow.

3. The combination with an automobile body having horizontally arrangedrunner bars oppositely located at the rear portion thereof, of slideblocks movably mounted on the runner bars, and means for confining themin their forwardly and rearwardly located positions, bracketshinge-connected to the'slide blocks, a foldable top comprising a rearbow the depending members of which are. fixed to said hinged brackets,and another bow forward of such rear bow and means comprised in saidbracket for the detachable connection with the latter of said forwardlylocated bow.

4. The combination with an automobile body having horizontally arrangedrunner bars oppositely located at the rear portion thereof, of slideblocks movably mounted on the runner bars, normally upright bracketshinge-connected to the slide blocks, and having horizontal forwardlyprojecting extensions provided with upwardly opening sockets, a foldabletop comprisinga rear bow the depending members of which are fixed tosaid upright'hinged brackets, and other bows forward thereof adaptedwhile in their folded relations to have temporarily supportingengagements in said bracket sockets, and means for detachably supportingthe forwardly located bows in their separation 0n the sides of the body.

5. The combination with an automobile body having horizontally arrangedrunner bars oppositely located at the rear portion thereof, ofconstrictive blocks embracing and slidable on the runner bars, andhaving means for binding them in their forward or rearwardly locatedrelations on said bars, normally upright brackets hinge-connected to theslide blocks, and having horizontal forward extension provided withupwardly opening sockets, a foldable top comprising a rear bow thedepending members of which are fixed to said upright hinged brackets,and other-bows forward thereof adapted while in their folded relationsto have tem-' porary-supporting engagements in said bracket sockets, andmeans for detachably supporting the forwardly located bows, inseparation, on the sides of the body.

6. The combination with an automobile body having brackets oppositelylocated at its rear portion having opposite sets of brackets in spacedarrangement at its'side forward of such rear brackets, and havingupwardly opening pockets within its sides between the sidewise locatedbrackets, of a foldable top comprising a rear bow having its dependingmembers secured to the rear brackets while its forward bows in suitablyseparated relations are adapted to be detach ably supported inparallelism by the forwardly located brackets and to have theirdepending portions form window frames, sash windows removably heldwithin the frame, above the upper edges of the sides of the body, and tobe lowered down into said pockets, and slidable means appurtenant to therear brackets for receiving the temporary connections therewithfof thedepending members of the forward bows.

7. The combination with an automobile body having oppositely locatedbrackets at its rear portion, of a foldable top comprising a pluralityof bows adapted to have separated relations, the rear one of which issecured to said brackets, said brackets adapted for forwardly slidablemovement of the automobile body and the bows forward of the rear oneadapted while in such: separated relation to be detachably supportedonthe sides of the body and to be also in their folded relation detachablyconnected to, and supported by said brackets.

8. The combination with an automobile body having oppositely locatedslidable brackets at its rear portion, of a foldable top comprising aplurality of bows adapted to have separated relations, the rear end ofwhich is pivotally secured to said brackets, and the bows forward of therear one adapted while in such separated relation to be detachablysupported on the sides of the body and to be also in their foldedrelation detachably connected to','and supported by said brackets,clamping means secured to said brackets and adapted to secure thebrackets in their adjusted position.

9. The combination with an automobile body of a foldable top comprisinga plurality of bows detachably arranged in spaced relation thereon, aswinging and slidable bracket secured to the opposite ends of the rearbow, said bracket provided with means for supporting the forward bowswhen in their folded position.

10. The combination with an automobile body of a foldable top comprisinga plurality of bows detachably arranged in spaced relation thereon, therear oneof which is provided with brackets on its opposite ends, saidbrackets having socket por tions arranged at right angles to said rearbow adapted to receive the bows forward thereof when in their foldedposition and means for slidably supporting the brackets upon the saidbody.

11. The combination with an automobil opposite ends for forward andrearward Signed by me at Springfield, Mass, in slidable movement on saidbody,- means for presence of two subscribing witnesses. limiting theextent of slich movement, said HINSDALE SMITH brackets having a portionforward of said 5 bow adapted to detachably confine the bows witnessesz.

forward of the rear one when in folded G. R. DRISCOLL, position. WILBERA. STANNARD.

